‘Attainment at all costs’ approach could undermine Send changes, school leaders in England say
Summary
School leaders in England warn that current government policies focusing mainly on exam results may hurt efforts to support children with special educational needs and disabilities (Send). They say schools might be punished for including these pupils if their test scores drop, and changes need more funding, staff, and clear guidance to work well.Key Facts
- The government wants to help mainstream schools include more children with special educational needs and disabilities (Send).
- School leaders say focusing too much on academic results can punish schools that include Send pupils.
- Proposed changes include adding “inclusion bases” in schools to support Send students, but details on how these will work are unclear.
- The Association of School and College Leaders (ASCL) stresses reforms need proper staffing, funding, and training to succeed.
- Children’s charities warn that limiting parents’ rights to appeal Send decisions could lead to more conflicts and legal challenges.
- A study found that some schools have many more Send pupils than others, concentrating these students unevenly.
- Families tend to send Send pupils to schools with good reputations, while some schools avoid attracting Send pupils.
- Education union leaders call for better local authority control to make sure school placements are fair and transparent.
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